3. High scoring affairs seem to be in the future early
Louisville’s first two games, if all goes as planned, are shaping up to be against the SMU Mustangs and the Miami Hurricanes. Looking back at the regular season, the 2 matchups against the Mustangs and the 1 most recent matchup against the Hurricanes yielded very high-scoring results. These games feature fast-paced, highly efficient offenses with very little defensive production. Look for more of the same in both of these games, as it does not appear that trend will end in the conference tournament.
This means the offensive efficiency and the 3-pointing percentages will be even more critical for the Cardinals heading into the postseason. Louisville’s ability to hit from the outside has been its strength all season, giving it its highest highs and lowest lows. The 3 transfer stars in Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely, and Adrian Wooley will be looked upon to shoulder the load in outside shooting. Their successes (especially early in games) will be the key indicator as to whether Louisville can compete in said game.